Hat-frame-forming device.



No. 760,068. PATENTED MAY 17, 1904'.

E. A. HOWE.

HAT FRAME FORMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHBETB-SHEET 1.

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HAT FRAME FORMING DEVICE.

APPLIOA'I'ION FILED HBPT- 25. 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Patented May 17, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. HOWE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HAT-FRAME-FORMING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,068, dated May 1'7, 1904.

7 Application filed September 25,1903. Serial No. 174,587. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern):

Be it known that LEDWARD A. HOWE, a citi-' zen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in HatFrame-Forming Devices,

of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The ob ect of this, inventionis to provide an improved device or former for use in the making of'wire hat-frames for ladies" hats,

and with this and other objects in view tl1cin-' vention consists in a device for the purpose specified, constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views, and in which Figure l is a sectional side View of my improved device with parts of the construction removed and showing part of the hat-frame; and Fig. 2, a plan view, partially section,

with part of the construction removed and showing part of the hat-frame.

In the practice of my invention I provide a base plate orboard a, which is preferably circular. in form .and which is provided centrally of the bottom thereof with a pivot-pin or journal a, adapted to be set into a block, 7

frame, or other support a and onwhich the hat-frame former may be rotated in the operation thereof, as hereinafter described.

Secured to the top of the base a; radially cesses 0 adapted to receive the arms 0, which are also preferably rectangular in cross-section', and in each of the recesses c is placed a screw 0 by means of which the inward movement of the arms c'may be regulated when the block 0 is in its highest position. The

upward movement of the block 0 is limited by inwardly-directed shoulders on the arms 0, and when said block is moved downwardly the upper ends of the arms a may be brought closely together, as will be readily understood, and said arms are always normally drawn inwardly by thespring 0.

Secured to the upper end of each of the arms a and to the inner sides thereof is a vertically-adjustable bar or plate (3, having a 1011- gitudinal slot (Z through which is passed a boltd",'pr*ovidcd with a screw-threaded end,

which is directed outwardly and provided with a thumb-nut dfiand by means of this wire-holders X, which are held in position by screws 0, which are passed through longitudinal slots 0', formed therein, and into the supports c. In the form of construction shown the supports a are providedin the top thereof with longitudinal grooves 6 andthe blocks 0 are provided on the bottom thereof with longitudinal tongues e, which fit in said grooves; but these parts may be formed in any desiredmanner, all that is necessary in this connection being to make the blocks a radially adjustable on the upper end of the plates or bars d. The blocks 6 are all provided in their outer ends with horizontallyarranged grooves f, and the upper ends of the arms 0 are provided with similar horizontally-arranged transverse grooves f in their outer sides, and secured to each of said arms 0, just below the groove f therein, is a radially-arranged supplemental arm g, composed of flexible metal, such as brass, and adapted to be bent upwardly or downwardly or into any desired position.

In forminga hat-frame, supposing the parts of the former to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, a wire it is passed around the ends of the blocks 0 and secured in the grooves f and the ends of said wire are connected to form a ring,'and this wire constitutes the crown-wire of the hat-frame. Another wire b is passed around the upper ends of the arms 0 in the grooves f and drawn tightly and the ends thereof secured, and this wire constitutes the head wire of the hat-frame and fixes the diameter of the crown of the hat-frame where it fits the head, while the wire it fixes the diameter of the top of the crown of the hat-frame. The supplemental arms g are provided with blocks which are adjustable thereon and which are provided with set-screws g by which they may be secured in any desired position on said arms, and these blocks 9 are provided in their outer sides each with a recess g After the wires in and b have been secured in position in the operation of forming a hatframe, as hereinafter described, other wires c', 2 and d are passed around the blocks as shown in the drawings, and the ends thereof secured in any desired manner. Radiallyarranged wires eight of which are shown in the drawings, are then passed across the top of the former and wrapped around the wire -70, as shown at j in Figs. 1 and 2, and then carried down and wrapped around the Wire [22, as shown at f, and then outwardly and radially and wrapped around the wires 2', i and 2' in the order named, as shown at 1, 7' and 1'. This operation forms the hat-frame, and by depressing the centralblock c the upper ends of the arms 0 will be-drawn together and the hat-frame may be removed from the former, as will be readily understood. By bending the supplemental arms 9 upwardly or downwardly the rim of the hat may be given any desired formation in cross-section, and it will also be apparent that the passing of the wires 6, i and 71 around the blocks 9 may be done in such a manner as to give the rim of the hat different widths in cross-section at different points. By adjusting the bars or plates cZ vertically the crown of the hat-frame may be given any desired height, and by adjusting the blocks (2 radially the width of the crown of the hatframe at the top may be regulated as desired, and the diameter of the head portion of the crown of the hat-frame or of the wire k may be regulated by means of the screws 0 which regulate the inward movement of the arms 0.

Any suitable material may be employed in the construction of my improved hat-frame former; but I prefer to make the radially-arranged arms g of flexible material, so that said arms may be bent so as to give the rim of the hat-frame any desired form or contour. It

will also be apparent that various changes in and modifications of the construction of my improved hat-frame former as herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, and I reserve the right to make all such alterations therein as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A hat-frame former, comprising a base, vertically arranged and radially movable arms connected therewith, means for regulating the inward movement of said arms, vertically-adjustable members connected with the upper ends of said arms, radiallyadjustable wire-holders connected with the upper ends of said members, radial flexible arms connected with the upper ends of the first-named arms and adjustable devices mounted on said flexible arms, substantially as shown and described.

2. A hat-frame former, comprising a base, vertically arranged and radially movable arms connected therewith, a verticallymovable device mounted between said arms and adapted to regulate the movement thereof, radially-adjustable wire-holders connected with the upper ends of said arms and verticallyadjustable, radially arranged and flexible arms connected with the upper ends of the first-named arms, and adjustable wire-holding devices connected with said flexible arms, substantially as shown and described.

3. A hat-forming device, comprising a base provided with vertically arranged and radially-movable arms, means for limiting the inward movement of said arms, vertically-adjustable wire-holders connected with the upper ends of said arms and provided in their outer ends With horizontally arranged grooves, said arms being also provided at the top thereof and in the outer sides thereof with horizontally-arranged grooves, supplemental, flexible, radial armsconnected with said radially-movable arms below the grooves therein and adjustable wire-holding devices mounted on said flexible arms, substantially as shown and described.

4. A hat-frame former, provided with vertically-arranged radially-movable main arms, means for regulating the inward movement of said arms, vertically and radially adjustable wire-holding devices connected with the upper ends of said arm, radial, flexible, sup plemental arms connected with the first-named arms at or near the top thereof and wire-holding devices connected with said flexible arms, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 23d day of September, 1903.

EDI/VARD A. HOWE.

Vitnesses:

F. A. STEWART, C. J. KLEIN. 

